Researchers at the John Theurer Cancer Center Present Cutting-Edge Research Results at this Year's American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting

Doctors and researchers from the John Theurer Cancer Center at Hackensack University Medical Center recently presented research updates and clinical trial results of more than 20 innovative studies at the American Society of Hematology (ASH) annual meeting from December 5-8, 2009. Their research involved some of the most promising cancer-treatment candidates in the pipeline today, including Carfilzomib and Difibrotide; two therapies offering patients new hope in the fight against cancer and the debilitating side-effects of treatment.

A quarter of the researchers' abstracts were accepted by ASH as oral presentations, demonstrating the high-quality research and the cutting-edge trials that are ongoing at the John Theurer Cancer Center. Furthermore, an impressive six researchers were first authors of international and multi-center studies, establishing John Theurer Cancer Center's leadership role in the fight against cancer.

"Our commitment to research allows us to give our patients access to novel therapies and be at the cancer-treatment forefront with experience using some of the newest therapies in development today," said Andrew L. Pecora, M.D., F.A.C.P., Chairman and Executive Administrative Director, John Theurer Cancer Center. "We continue to broaden our research expertise through investments in our clinical and research talent, technology, and infrastructure improvements, allowing us to utilize only the most rigorous standards available as we strive for excellence in improving cancer outcomes."

The John Theurer Cancer Center has more than 100 open, actively enrolling clinical trials and physicians involved in the most innovative approaches to cancer treatments, such as TOMO therapy, robotics, and developing tissue banks. Much of this research is conducted in collaboration with well-known cancer organizations, such as MD Anderson, the National Cancer Institute and Memorial Sloan-Kettering. This year, the John Theurer Cancer Center expanded its comprehensive research program with a Phase I clinical oncology program, which includes an outpatient clinic and a dedicated inpatient bed facility in the hospital's inpatient cancer ward.

"Our Phase I Program has significantly broadened the new approaches to care we can offer patients," said Dr. Pecora. "With this facility, we are currently conducting eight Phase I and six Phase I/II clinical trials to validate new treatments for lymphoma, leukemia and multiple myeloma. And we plan to open 10 more Phase I clinical trials in 2010."